Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY | OTCQX:LKYRF | FSE:X5L) advances U.S. antimony production pathway

Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) has taken a further step in its strategy to re-establish a United States domestic supply chain for antimony, entering a Memorandum of Understanding with Hazen Research Inc. to secure near-term processing capacity while commercial development work progresses.

The move follows the recent casting of a fully American-made antimony ingot, which demonstrated the technical feasibility of producing metal entirely within the U.S. supply chain.

Highlights
• MoU signed with Hazen Research Inc. for toll processing of ore from the Desert Antimony Mine
• Supports validation of processing parameters and generation of representative product samples
• Work will run in parallel with pilot plant design and broader commercial development studies
• Aligns with U.S. Government priorities to rebuild domestic critical mineral processing capacity

The agreement provides a framework for semi-continuous or batch processing of ore, metallurgical optimisation and the production of samples for testing with potential U.S. industrial and defence sector buyers.

The approach is intended to advance project readiness while de-risking the transition from pilot stage to commercial production.

The Desert Antimony Mine forms part of Locksley’s Mojave Project in California, located in a region of strategic sensitivity due to its proximity to the Mountain Pass rare earths operations.

The mine is notable as a rare example of a high-grade antimony occurrence within the continental United States, at a time when there is no domestic production and supply is dominated by China.

Under the MoU, Hazen Research will assist in confirming recovery performance, refining processing conditions and generating data required for design studies relating to pilot and commercial scale facilities.

This development trajectory also remains supported by Locksley’s collaboration with Rice University, where research efforts are focused on optimising hydrometallurgical extraction routes and antimony-based materials applications.

The company’s Chief Operating Officer, Danny George, described the MoU as a practical step intended to maintain development momentum.

“This MoU represents an important step in de-risking our ore processing strategy and accelerating the path to revenue. By securing toll processing capacity in the United States, we can begin generating operational data and product while our pilot and commercial-scale plant development continues in parallel,”  he said.

Locksley Resources plans to advance multiple workstreams in tandem, including the toll processing pathway and the staged development of a pilot and later commercial scale plant.

Engagements with U.S.-based engineering and project delivery groups have been undertaken to support this next phase of planning.

Representative product samples generated during the toll processing stage are expected to support qualification processes with potential customers and help define offtake arrangements.

The broader market context is shaped by rising geopolitical emphasis on securing non-Chinese sources of critical minerals used in defence systems, electronics and metal alloys.

Antimony is considered strategically significant due to its applications in flame retardants, armour-piercing munitions and semiconductor materials.

Outlook

With government-backed financing programs available and strong policy support for domestic critical mineral supply chains, Locksley’s advancement of a mine-to-market strategy for U.S. antimony sits within a broader national push to reshore refining and material sourcing.

The execution of definitive agreements for toll processing will be a key next step, alongside further definition of pilot plant scale and development schedule.

The company’s ability to deliver operational data and qualified product during this interim phase will be central to progressing the project toward commercial readiness.

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